“It’s incredibly good to be able to read in front of people. That’s when the text begins to come alive in a completely different way,” says Ferdinand Schmalz, who is already looking forward to June 3rd. The celebrated and award-winning novelist and playwright will open the sixth Literature Days in Steyr at 7 p.m. in the inner courtyard of the town hall with a reading from his novel “My favorite animal is called Winter”.
The 2017 Bachmann Prize winner knows about the inspiring effect of public readings: “I still remember a virtual reading well. This talking into emptiness feels very strange.”
From June 3rd to 5th, organizer Karin Fleischanderl is again presenting a cross-section of the local literary scene that arouses curiosity at various locations (Museum Arbeitswelt, Café-Restaurant Rahofer, Zwinger and Schwechater Hof). Regina Hilber, Romina Pleschko, Bernhard Strobel, Barbi Markovic and Norbert Gstrein read from current texts.
Once behind the mountains
The author, translator and festival director Fleischanderl describes the secret of the festival’s success – the budget is 25,000 euros this year: “It actually worked right from the start and interest has grown steadily.” When it came to literature, her hometown used to be a place behind the mountains where a poet would come and read from time to time, Fleischanderl says smugly. Now she’s noticing that, for example with more readings in the Museum Arbeitswelt or in the Literaturschiff, there are “something like competitors. And that’s a good sign.”
You can also look forward to Elias Hirschl’s performance on Friday, June 3, at 9 p.m. in the Museum Arbeitswelt. Last summer, the Viennese reached a wide audience with his novel “Salon able” about an egocentric party leader named Julius Varga, who is strongly reminiscent of an Austrian ex-chancellor. The rousing readings of the writer and musician from his poetry slam texts always inspire the audience: “Of course, my performative texts work better with a live audience, but I also had readings on Facebook during the pandemic that went well. Only if you then turn off the computer and sit alone in the apartment, it’s very strange.”
Hirschl is currently working as a town clerk in Dortmund and combines this stay with a well-advanced collection of material for a new novel. With his indie band “Ein Gespens” he will release a new single on June 10th, and the first album will be released in October.
Literature Days Steyr: 3rd to 5th June. Program and information www.steyrer-literaturtage.at; Admission free.
Source: Nachrichten
